Processes and equipments for the continuous treating of yarns



Aprll 21, 1959 G. SEVERINI 2,883,259

PROCESSES AND EQUIPMENTS FOR THE CONTINUOUS I TREATING OF mans Filed Jan. 26,1953

i INVENTOR 6offredo Sever/m BYh/M Maw ATTORNEYS United States Patent PROCESSES AND EQUIPMENTS FOR THE CON- TINUOUSTREATING OF YARNS Golfredo Severini, Milan, Italy Application January 26, 1953, Serial No. 333,165 Claims priority, application Italy January ZS, 1952 8 Claims. (Cl. 8-151.1)

This invention relates to a process and related equipment for the continuous treating of yarn in general. As the invention is particularly suitable for the continuous spinning of viscose rayon, a particular reference to such a process will be made in the following description. However, this is not to be understood as a restriction on the scope of the invention, as the same can be equally well applied to continuous processes other than continuous spinning, and to textile materials other than viscose rayon, e.g. cellulose acetate, casein and synthetic linear polymers. i

In the continuous treatment of single filaments, groups of filaments and textile yarns, the material which is to be processed, hereinafter termed for convenience as yarn (it being understood that, as the material is often in the form of groups of bundles of filaments or yarns, or tow, each individual group or bundles of filaments will be referred to as a strand of yarn) must be continuously fed while being submitted to chemical treatments, or while being impregnated with suitable processing liquors, or while being submitted to thermal treatments, e.g. drying, cooling, conditioning and the like, or also to mechanical treatments, as stretching and drawing, or finally to any combination of said treatments. Now, in order that the yarn may be fed at a rate sufiicient to meet the requirements of modern industry, and yet remain exposed to the processing treatment for a suflicient timewhich time, as is well known, varies widely from case to casethere must bea sufiicient length of yarn undergoing treatment at any onetime. This is attained in general, by causing the yarn to travel along a spiral path, whereby a substantial length of yarn is stored at any one time within the relatively small space whereinthe treatments are being carried out.

For the above reasons, the devices designed to continuously feed the yarn in such a manner that a considerable length thereof be stored within a relatively restricted space, and in particular those by which the yarn is caused to travel along a spiral path, are termed feeding and storing devices. The apparatus object of this invention also causes the yarn that is being processed therein to travel along a spiral path while actually differing in many respects from all other apparatus heretofore known. e

The designers of the many storing and feeding devices already known in the art, and particularly in the field of continuous spinning of viscose rayon, have always endeavoured to impartto their devices that compactness which is practically essential; However, none of them has ever succeeded in attaining such a device, at least not without having recourse to complicated devices, which have serious drawbacks from other viewpoints.

Obviously, by the term compact device is meant an apparatus of limited size yet capable of handling a great total length of yarn. This invention provides through very simple means, a device of such kind, having unusually reduced sizes.

2,883,259 Patented Apr. 21, 1959 cording to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device of Fig. l.

The treatment according to this invention is characterized in that a plurality of yarns which are to be treated all in the same manner, are caused to travel about two slanted cylindrical surfaces in substantially spiral configurations, one of the two surfaces being the same for all yarns, and that the paths of different strands never cross each other, but are intercalated in a constant succession. The parts of the spiral configurations of the several strands which do not lie on the common cylindrical surface not only have a difierent form of configuration, but moreover do not cross each other, i.e. each of them isincluded within the space encompassed by the other. Moreover, the different strands are each started according to a preestablished sequence, in the order of increasing distances between the two cylindrical surfaces about which each strand travels.

The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises one main roller, whereon the treatmentsor at least the main portion thereofare applied, the same roller being suitablyshaped and provided with different auxiliary elements as required by the particular treatment or treatments to be applied, and by the particular textile material to be processed, as well as a number of auxiliary or advancing rollers, arranged with their axes oblique with respect to the axes of the main roller. The auxiliary rollers are arranged and adjusted .in such a mannerthat when one strand of yarn is passed around each of them and all the strands of all of the yarns'are then passed around the main processing rollerand all rollers are driven at the sameperipheral speed, then all yarns will travel along spiral paths all having the same pitch. The advancing rollers arespaced according to characteristics of treatments to be applied, and of the material to be processed? l l The apparatus could consist also of more than one processing roller, provided that each one of such processing rollers is in combination with a plurality of advancing rollers. As, in such a case the equipment could be considered as made-up by a number of single units, each provided with only one processing roller, both in the description and in the claims reference will be made to the case of one of such single units, it being understood that this is not to be construed as an undue restric tion of the scope of the invention, and of the protection granted by the Letters Patent.

Thus, according to the invention, a number of strands of yarns are fed to acommon storing and feeding device, provided with a processing roller common to all yarns, and with a number of advancing rollers, shaped and arranged in such a manner that none of the paths covered by the strands of the different yarns shall wholly coincide with any other path, even in the case of an occasional displacement of any kind. The strands are started according to a pro-established sequence, beginning with the yarn of the roller nearest to processing roller, and then in the order of increasing distance of remaining rollers from the processing roller.

The invention will be better understood by referring to Figs. 1 and 2 which show, by way of example, a preferred embodiment thereof, as applied to a particular type of yarn. It will be understood that the relative positions and inclinations of the rollers have been exaggerated in order to better illustrate the features of the construction.

Referring now to above said figures, 20 is a processing roller, whereon a plurality of strands of yarn (only four strands, 21 21 21 21 are shown by way of exaxes oblique in respect of the main roller.

ample in same figures) undergo a number of chemical and heat processings, the former being applied through suitable bath solutions (which might consist of plain rinsing water), while the heat treatments could consist in a heating, cooling or conditioning 'of 'the strands (ie.g. by means of fluids heated't'o a suitable temperature, applied directly to the strands or circulated inside of roller It will be assumed, by way of example, that each strand consists of a rope of viscose filaments, the rope being made-up by all the filaments coming from same spinneret. Thus, the treatments which the filaments undergo on said roller shall be, in the case in question, those required to obtain an adequately finished viscose yarn. As already well known, such treatments, applied 'by'means of suitable solutions, will'generally include -a fixing, a desulphuration, a bleaching, a finishing, different rinses, and

possibly also-further processing steps, according to each particular case, as well as :heat "treatments of drying, cooling and possibly conditioning. :Further mechanical stretching or shrinking treatments could also beapplied, and in such cases, truncated cone-shaped sections, enlarged and tapered in the same direction of yarn motion, are provided on the processingroller. The treatment solutions are fed to processing roller 20 by any'convenient means, eg by the tubes 22, as shown in'the figure, and then are collected by any convenient means, e.g. by the basin 23, subdivided into compartments or cells 27, each corresponding to a different solution, and wherefroin the solutions can be conveniently re-circulated.

The processing roller 20 is also subdivided into various sections 'by means of the flanges 24, which ensure a positive separation between the different solutions. Yarn guides are also provided, in order to allow the strands to pass over the flanges; in the example as considered, each strand of yarn is engaged by one yarn guide in correspondence to each'flange. The roller 20 is inclined in a direction opposite to that of yarn motion, whereby the film formed by the treatment solution on the surface of each cylinder section, will flow in countercurrent to the direction of movement of the strands. A relatively large diameter, e.g. or more centimeters, is preferably selected for the roller 20.

The Figures 1 and 2 are based on the assumption that only four strands are to be processed, but such a number could obviously be varied at will. A plurality of advancing rollers 26 26 26 and 26,; are provided, one to correspond to each strand. A diameter smaller than that of the processing roller should be selected for the advancing rollers, and they are to be arranged with their Under such conditions, each strand wound around one of rollers 26 26 26 and 26 and then around the processing roller 20, will travel along a substantially spiral path, the pitch of which is governed primarily by the inclination at which said rollers are'set orwhen the inclination is equalby the ratio ofroller diameters. In the embodiment shown by Figs. 1 and 2, the rollers 26 26 26 and 26 are all of the same size, and are arranged parallel to one another, being set at different distances from the processing roller however, as clearly shown by Fig. 2. The spiral paths covered by the different strands accordingly have a different shape, and more precisely they are more stretched out for those yarns which come from the farthest feed rollers.

Each turn of yarn, has a processing portion in contact with the roller 20, the length of which varies slightly according to the distance at which the advancing roller is set, as clearly apparent. More precisely, the farther the advancing roller in question is from the processing roller, the smaller will be the obtuse angle during which the yarn is in contact with the roller 20 and the shorter will be the processing path of yarn.

For all of the strands, theportion of the surface of roller 20 which they contact in common is that portion included in the angle Z of Fig. 2.

The paths-of the several strands around the advancing rollers are on the contrary wholly different-as it can be readily understoodand each one is contained within the space encompassed by the preceding one. The part of strand 21;; is enclosed within the space encompassed by the path of strand 21 and so on, up to the strand 21 the path of which has the greatest length.

It must be noted that the surfaces of advancing rollers could also be utilized for the processing of yarn; as a matter of fact, when the treatments are applied by means of solutions, an amount of said solutions is always entrained by the yarns, whereby the treatment is extended even beyond the surface of roller 20. But in spite of this, only the roller surface is considered as a treatment surface on the basis of the previously given definitions, because the principal part of the treatment is applied thereon. In each case, as can be readily appreciated, the strands will travel along spiral paths all having the same pitch,'whereby the highest degree of utilization 'of'processing roller surface can be attained, the pitch of spiral paths being purposely selected in accordance with the number and diameters of yarn to attain precisely such a maximum degreeof utilization. If'an attempt to attain "the s'am'eresult =by the already known devices were made by looping several strands about two identical rollers, as in Fig. 1, then the single strands would become joined to each other,"tangled or broken, or would form a single strand with a multiple count. With the process according to this invention even if the strands come into contact withone another (whentravelling'along the common section of processing surface), they will disengage from one another at the point where the paths are again diverging, whereupon they are obtained separate from one another. Such an action could not be reasonably anticipated; on the contrary, on the basis of common knowledge, it was considered as absolutely not feasible. Thus, no attempts have been made heretofore in engineering practice to process a :plurality of strands on one and the same device and in the same space, notwithstanding the great'advantages which would accrue from such aprocess;

at any rate, all approaches to such a problem led to unsuccessful results.

Thestrand 21;; is firststarted and, after having reached the first flange 24, it stops thereagainst, forming a ring made-up by many turns ofstrand. Then the second yarn 21 is started, and behaves in a like manner; then all other strands are likewise started. All rings or yarn are caused to pass at the same time 'over the flange, whereupon the single strands will disengage from one anotherwhich, as already stated, is a really astonishing result-and go to next flange to form further rings thereagainst, and so on for all other flanges. Finally, after all treatments have been applied, each strand is sent to its own collecting-device.

The aforedescribed example, while being a preferred embodiment of the invention, is by no means restrictive of the range thereof, as variations and modifications and changes may be made therein, as fall within the scope of the claims hereunto, by any person skillful in the art. In particular, the invention can be applied also to treatments of yarns other than the viscose rayon, and to processes other than those described.

What I claim is 1. A process for the continuous processing of yarns, comprising the steps of looping a plurality of strands of yarn with the same interval between successive loops of each strand about a common cylindrical main surface, looping each strand about a separate cylindrical auxiliary surface associatedwith said cylindrical main surface, the several auxiliary surfaces each being oblique to said main surface and at a different distancethe're from, the loops of each strand 'of yarn circumscribing the loops 'of the other strands that are associated with auxiliary surfaces less distant from said main surface, causing all of said strands to progress continuously in their looped configurations, and continuously applying treatments thereto while they are so progressing.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the strands of yarn consist of viscose rayon, and the treatments applied thereto include setting, desulfurizing, bleaching, finishing and a plurality of washings.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the portions of loops of strands lying on the cylindrical main surface are so intercalated that each pair of successive loops of any one strand straddle one loop of each of the other strands.

4. A process for the continuous processing of yarns, comprising the steps of threading up a first strand of yarn about a cylindrical main surface and a first cylindrical auxiliary surface oblique to the cylindrical main surface in a substantially helical configuration, subsequently threading up a second strand of yarn about the same main surface and about a second cylindrical auxiliary surface oblique to said main surface and at a greater distance therefrom than said first auxiliary surface, in another substantially helical configuration circumscribing the configuration of the first strand and having the same pitch, subsequently threading up other strands of yarn in succession about the same main surface and about other cylindrical auxiliary surfaces oblique to said main surface and at increasing distances therefrom, in substantially helical configurations all having the same pitch and each circumscribing the configurations of the preceding strands and being circumscribed by the configurations of the following strands, actuating all of said strands to travel continuously in the configurations in which they have been threaded up, and continuously processing said strands by applying treatments thereto on the portions that momentarily lie on said common cylindrical main surface.

5. Thread advancing device for processing yarns, comprising a rotatable processing roller, means for effecting at least a substantial portion of each processing treatment thereon, and a plurality of advancing rollers arranged obliquely to said processing roller, each of them having the same effective length as said processing roller, and all being positioned in a fixed relationship thereto for concurrent cooperation with and for concurrently supporting and advancing a strand of yarn for each advancing roller in a substantially helical configuration having the same pitch for all strands, said advancing rollers being positioned at increasing distances and in substantially the same general direction away from said.

processing roller.

6. Thread advancing device for processing yarns, comprising a rotatable processing roller, means for effecting at least a substantial portion of each processing treatment thereon, and a plurality of advancing rollers arranged obliquely to said processing roller each of them having the same eflective length as said processing roller, said advancing rollers being arranged in a succession in which each roller is closer to said processing roller than the advancing rollers that follow it in said succession, and being positioned in a fixed relationship to said processing roller for concurrent cooperation therewith, each advancing roller being positioned within the substantially wedge-shaped space circumscribed by a strand of yarn looped about said processing roller and the advancing roller that follows next in said succession.

7. Thread advancing device according to claim 6 wherein the advancing rollers have substantially smaller diameters than the processing roller. A

8. Thread advancing device according to claim 6, wherein the processing roller is divided into processing zones corresponding to processing steps including setting, desulphurizing, bleaching, finishing and a plurality of washings, said device further comprising means for effecting each processing step in the corresponding zone of the processing roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,983,221 Fumess Dec. 4, 1934 2,020,057 Hartmann et al. Nov. 5, 1935 2,254,251 Uytenbogaart Sept. 2, 1941 2,294,871 Sellner Sept. 1, 1942 2,416,535 Naumann Feb. 25, 1947 2,533,103 Givens et a1. Dec. 5, 1950 2,539,980 Van Hall Jan. 30, 1951 2,596,520 Barker 'May 13, 1952 2,621,390 Nield Dec. 16, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 857,571 Germany July 8, 1949 448,774 Great Britain Aug. 15, 1935 

4. A PROCES FOR THE CONTINUOUS PROCESSING OF YARNS, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF THREADING UP A FIRST STRAND OF YARN ABOUT A CYLINDRICAL MAIN SURFACE AND A FIRST CYLINDRICAL AUXILIARY SURFACE OBLIQUE TO THE CYLINDRICAL MAIN SURFACE IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HELICAL CONFIGURATION, SUBSEQUENTLY THREADING UP A SECOND STRAND OF YARN ABOUT THE SAME MAIN SURFACE AND ABOUT A SECOND CYLINDRICAL AUXILIARY SURFACE OBLIQUE TO SAID MAIN SURFACE AND AT A GREATER DISTANCE THEREFROM THAN SAID FRIST AUXILIARY SURFACE, IN ANOTHER SUBSTANTIALLY HELICAL CONFIGURATION CIRCUMSCRIBING THE CONFIGURATION OF THE FIRST STRAND AND HAVING THE SAME PITCH, SUBSEQUENTLY THREADING UP OTHER STRANDS OF YARN IN SUCCESSION ABOUT THE SAME MAIN SURFACE AND ABOUT OTHER CYLINDRICAL AUXILIARY SURFACES OBLIQUE TO SAID MAIN SURFACE AND AT INCREASING DISTANCES THEREFROM, IN SUBSTANTIALLY HELICAL CONFIGURATIONS ALL HAVING THE SAME PITCH AND EACH CIRCUMSCRIBING THE CONFIGURATIONS OF THE PRECEDING STRANDS AND BEING CIRCUMSCRIBED BY THE CONFIGURATIONS OF THE FOLLOWING STRANDS, ACTUATING ALL OF SAID STRANDS TO TRAVEL CONTINUOUSLY IN THE CONFIGURATIONS IN WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN THREADED UP, AND CONTINUOUSLY PROCESSING SAID STRANDS BY APPLYING TREATMENTS THERETO ON THE PORTIONS THAT MOMENTARILY LIE ON SAID COMMON CYLINDRICAL MAIN SURFACE. 